The Knicks Fix

Donnie Walsh has got his poker face going.

He's letting us in on only a little of what he's actually thinking but allowing us to believe anything is possible. And, quite frankly, I think anything is possible. But what does he really want to do?

You'll find out on draft night.

“Don’t try to figure out what I’m trying to do with what I’m saying!” he laughed.

He talked openly about players such as Eric Gordon and Danilo Gallinari, which means you can eliminate them as potential picks. (Joking, OK, half-joking). He said you have to be careful when drafting for "need" because the player you take "has to be a player there that you feel can be way above what you got now. That’s our job is to see which one of these players can do that.”

He even talked about how much he loves shot-blocking and, therefore, will have his eye on the top shot-blocking big men (DeAndre Jordan and JaVale McGee) in the draft.

See what I mean? He was purposely all over the place.

Walsh got here Thursday and the entire Knicks contingent -- they have 14 scouts here along with Glen Grunwald and Brendan Suhr -- will remain in Orlando through the weekend for meetings. It is Walsh's first chance to meet with everyone in the basketball operations side as a group and they will plot the strategy from there.

Along with the draft, Walsh also said anything is in play during the offseason. He said the pursuit of trade possibilities begins now, because you have the No. 6 pick and can shop it around a little. You can try to move up or move down or add picks. You can try to package it with another player to get a good player. Or you can just make the pick.

Walsh did say he plans to be active in talks among team executives here.

“I’m hearing teams want to move, but you don’t know until you find out," Walsh said. "I mean, everybody’s going to talk . . . we’ll find out who really wants to do it.”

Do you think there are teams that want some of your players?

“I don’t know," Walsh replied, "so I’m not going to wait for them to come and ask me.”

So you'll be calling them first?

“Yeah, of course," he said. "That’s not heresy, is it?”

* *

Got to know several players in the meet-and-greet on Thursday here. Really like Jerryd Bayless' directness and confidence ("You won't find a player in the universe more competitve than me," he said). Michael Beasley will be a great personality in the NBA, very warm-and-fuzzy kind of guy. OJ Mayo did a lot of "Yes, sir" and "No, sir" with his responses and stayed consistent, even through some tough questions about his agent controversy. Derrick Rose already carries himself like a superstar, but not in an arrogant way. Just in thay way that tells you he knows what he is and what he is about to be.

Kevin Love was very talkative. And the one thing I got from each of them is a huge smile whenever the words "Mike D'Antoni's system" were mentioned.

“I love it . . . I think it’s a good situation," Love said of the Knicks. "And those outlets, just getting that going, I think I can fit into that system very well.”

Love has a workout with the Knicks next week. I asked him if he could show a lot of his full-court intangibles in these workouts, which are mostly 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 games.

“It’s tough, you don’t do enough, really, of that full-court stuff. I’m just going to try to show all the intangibles I possibly can," he said, "and hopefully there will be enough tape on me where they can see those outlet passes as well.”

I reminded him that D'Antoni also loves shooters and Love, who has been involved in a dedicated regimine to trim up his somewhat dumpy body, smiled.

“I think I’ll surprise them when I go into the workout," he said, "and they can see how well I can shoot.”

We probably won't know until next week, but you can expect others such as Mayo, Bayless, Gordon and DJ Augustin to be brought in, along with Jordan and McGee, for individual workouts at the MSG Training Center.

Danilo Gallinari is not here at the NBA Pre-Draft camp, but people are talking about him. Ask some executives what they think and they'll tell you they're impressed. Is he better than Andrea Bargnani, as some have tried to promote? No. But is he a lottery pick in this draft? Yes.

And Fran Fraschilla, the former St. John's coach who these days does a lot of work for ESPN, gave the kid a ringing endorsement when we caught up with him Wednesday on the plaza outside the Milk House Gym (I told you everybody is here).

Fraschilla says he has watched Gallinari since the 6-9 swingman was 16 years old. Here are highlights of our conversation:

- "The best way to put it is, he would have been a first-team All-American in college. If you compare the NBA to the Euroleague, the Euroleague would be Triple-A to the NBA and college, even at the ACC level, would be Double-A. He is already shown at a very high level, the equivelant of Triple-A, that he's one of the best players in his age group in the world. You might not say he's there with Beasley or Rose, but he's not far behind."

- "He's got a toughness about him that I think, sometimes, maybe people in the States don't normally relate to an international player. It's a certain toughness that I think is unique for a player of that age."

- "He's a small forward that can get to the rim, he can shoot it, make good plays and makes players around him better. He's obviously not a great athlete and that's probably the one thing that holds him back, but neither was Turkoglu, Nowitzki or Stojakovich. In terms of guarding people, he's going to have to do it in a team concept. But you can say that about a lot of guys coming into the league."

Many people here believe Gallinari will be there when the Knicks select at No. 6. But I've also heard the Knicks are putting an emphasis on working out the top point guards in the draft -- individual workouts begin next week.

* *

We wrote about the point guard situation today
and, Fixers, let me push this name a little more: Monta Ellis. Just keep an eye on this brewing situation in Golden State. Could get very interesting. Stay tuned . . .

* *

The offseason is the best time for honesty. We all could see that the Knicks had zero chemistry on the court and it was quite obvious they weren't the tight group they claimed to be off of it. And in a story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer by Gary Washburn, both Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson open up about the internal issues.

"I think with any team it doesn't matter how much talent you have -- if you don't play together, it doesn't really mean anything," Crawford said.

"I think it's a combination of everything -- hanging out more, giving yourself up for the team. If your role on the team is to score you have to come and do that every night. If your role is to set picks and get rebounds you have to do that every night."

Based on his conversations with the two popular Seattle boys, Washburn writes that many Knick players complained about playing time and how they were used, and it reflected in their effort.

Sound familiar, Fixers?

"Whatever it is, if we need to go to the movies with each other, on the road, team dinners, team functions, guys supporting guys, barbeques, every little thing," Robinson said. "Whenever somebody has something, everyone on the team should show up, that shows the love and bond as teammates. Guys just have to do it for each other and we'll be all right."

* *

The Miami Herald is saying that some Miami Heat officials are already concerned about Mike D'Antoni's enviable position with USA Basketball, which gives him private access to key potential free agents in that Class of 2010 which, as you know, includes LeBron James and Miami's Dwyane Wade.

Let the recruiting begin.

* *

Funniest scene while mingling among the NBA crowd here: Michael Jordan stops dead in his tracks when he sees Dominique Wilkins. They exchange a warm hello and then Jordan teasingly rubs Wilkins' very swollen midsection.

Jordan last season was carrying around a noticable gut last year, but this year the shirt is tucked in the pants and his waistline is a lot trimmer. I guess if you hired Sam Vincent to coach your team, you might lose your appetite, too.

The NBA Pre-Draft Camp is like an NBA mixer, far more than all-star weekend, which is mostly over-run with marketing and corporate types. This place is pure basketball people; coaches, scouts, executives. Just about everyone is here and all at an arm's length and no PR people to intercept you and no restricted access places they can hide.

I got in last night and went straight to the Milk House Gym, which is in the Disney Wide World of Sports complex. It's a pretty cool set-up and I think I might have explained it last year in the blog. Not really a place you can take the kids if you're down here, but it's more of a complex where events can be held -- the Atlanta Braves hold spring training here, for instance. Last night was just two hours of drills for the players who were participating (the projected lottery picks don't show until later in the week for physicals), but it was a great opportunity to mingle with NBA people. When the night ended around 8 p.m., the gym empties into a plaza between the different sports facilities and you can find just about anyone -- even Danny Ainge was here, despite his team's Game 5 tonight in Boston -- from every team in the league.

I liken this event to the Final Four in that this is like a convention for coaches and executives who are looking to make conncetions and, perhaps, find another job to climb the ladder. At the Final Four, you have hundreds of coaches from all over Division I who arrive to swap cell phone numbers and touch base with the power coaches. Here's it's quite similar. Younger assistant coaches come here to get to know other NBA people and get face time with the power brokers -- you should see the receiving line at Larry Brown's seat -- and executives do the same, so, as we wrote today, you can expect Donnie Walsh to be a popular man when he arrives Thursday.

The Knicks have a small contingent here, led by Glen Grunwald, but it is mildly surprising that Walsh is waiting until Thursday to show. The Knicks only have a lottery pick, so it's not like they're trying to decide on someone among the players who are in the drills and games. Walsh will be here to see the lottery picks when they get their physicals and are available for interviews.

Mike D'Antoni isn't showing up at all. I find that interesting, but not nearly as interesting as Chad Ford's latest piece on ESPN.com. Ford has been pairing Danilo Gallinari with the Knicks in his mock drafts, but today writes "a Suns source swore to me Tuesday night that when they showed D'Antoni tape of Gallinari during the year, he wasn't a fan.

"Mike said he's just not sure the kid has what it takes to make it in the NBA," the source told Ford. "He said he'd be very nervous picking him in the mid-first round. I doubt he's become converted since he joined the Knicks."

Another source made an even more compelling argument: "Whether Mike loves him or hates him, Donnie Walsh is making this pick. He's the guy who has to take the heat and he's not going to pass that decision on to anyone else. What matters most is whether Donnie likes him."

I think we all agree that Walsh would take a high-end point guard first -- if, somehow, Jerryd Bayless slips by the Seattle/Oklahoma City Sonics -- and if D'Antoni isn't in love with Gallinari then he would pass. I would trust D'Antoni's opinion on international players.

Stay tuned there . . .

* *

Of course I sought out Patrick Ewing, who is here to watch his son, Patrick Jr., try to impress enough teams to be drafted. We asked him about the Knick job and he was clearly disappointed, but did not come off angry.

The Knicks don't own a second-round pick this year -- more on that in a minute -- but if they happen to come across one between now and the June draft, Ewing, Jr. would be a fun pick (they could also make him a training camp invitee if he doesn't get drafted). I asked Big Pat if his son wound up with the Knicks would he wear No. 33, like he did at Georgetown?

“He can wear anything he wants," Ewing said. "He is me. He wore it at Georgetown and they can take it down from the [Garden] rafters and put it on his back.”

Ewing just wants to see his son make it, but in many ways he already has.

“My proudest day was when I went down to Washington to see him graduate," Ewing said. "That was my proudest moment.”

Obviously there is no Isiah Thomas this year, but he is still very much in any conversation when you discuss the Knicks. I spoke with two executives who told me about how Thomas' overzealousness screwed the Knicks out of making a few moves last year.

The first was last year's draft. The Zach Randolph trade was a complicated one and part of the deal - though it was not directly connected - was an agreement that the Knicks and Blazers would work out their second-round picks so they would wind up with Taurean Green (remember we kept pushing that name last year). But Thomas kept tweaking the Randolph side that Portland brass got fed up and when it came time to talk about Green, they told Thomas they were done dealing with him.

The bigger of the two came hours before the trade deadline. Thomas had a deal to move Zach Randolph to the Denver Nuggets in another complicated trade, but there is no disputing a trade was ready to be made. But at the 11th hour, Isiah was at it again trying to tweak and adjust and squeak a little more out of the Nuggets, who eventually got fed up and called off the deal.

There are games today starting at 11 a.m. I'm sure most of you aren't interested in hearing too much about the obscure players, but if anything stands out I will be sure to present it here. In the meantime, I will continue to mingle with the NBA peeps. Maybe I should ask Chris Mullin about Monta Ellis . . .

If the Knicks do indeed keep the pick and don't opt for the best available point guard, here is the guy you can expect to get the jersey on draft night.

(The video is a bit grainy and distorted...but if you look close you can get an idea of what this kid is all about).

We have a story about Danilo in Tuesday's editions of Newsday, which include quotes from his father, Vittorio, who emailed me over the weekend from his home in northern Italy. Neither one of us fluently speak the other's language, so we agreed to email and translate electronically.

By now you know the story -- Mike D'Antoni has history with Danilo's dad, Vittorio. The two were longtime teammates on a very successful Olimpia Milano team in the 1980s. Vittorio said he mostly wants to see his son achieve his dream of playing in the NBA, but to have him play in New York and for D'Antoni would obviously be an added bonus.

"I think that Danilo can fit very well in Mike's system because he has enough skill to be ready for that," Vittorio Gallinari said. "For sure he need to get confidence with a new life and NBA system, but I believe that he can do it . . . And if it's New York it's more exiting because he can play with one of my teammates and in the big city with a great Italian community."

Vittorio was known more as a defensive player and admits his son has surpassed his own abilities.

"I was a completely different player from Danilo; I was a defensive player with poor talent," he said. "[Danilo] is a very talented player and he can defend too. He takes my toughness and intensity and like me he is always under control."

The positives about Danilo Gallinari is his size (6-9) and high basketball IQ, along with the European trademark of being fundamentally sound (kid shoots 85 percent from the stripe). The questions start with athleticism: can he explode to the basket at the NBA level and, more importantly, is he quick enough to defend at this level? He is a good shooter, but not great from long range, which is also somewhat of a concern.

I've heard comparisons that range from Detlef Schrempf (from NBADraft.net) to Toni Kukoc (from a European media friend) to Hedo Turkoglu (from a scout).

Most people believe the connection between D'Antoni and Gallinari is too strong to ignore (though both admit they have mainly stayed in touch over the years via mutual friends), not to mention how well most feel Danilo would fit in the D'Antoni system. But you can't overlook that the Knicks already have Wilson Chandler, who also plays the three-spot and showed a lot of athleticism, strength and a decent shooting touch when he started to get regular minutes late in the season.

Stay tuned....

ESPN's Chad Ford brings up a very interesting scenario regarding the Miami Heat's plans with the second overall pick. While the Chicago Bulls will keep their decision with the first overall choice very close to the vest -- as we said in the previous blog, it's no given that the Bulls go with hometown kid Derrick Rose over power forward Michael Beasley -- it is being suggested by Ford that if Rose winds up in Chicago, the Heat might pass on Beasley and look for another point guard to pair up with Dwyane Wade.

Now you don't pass on a talent like Beasley at No. 2, so the obvious thing for Pat Riley to do here is trade down or work out a deal where they take Beasley with a previous agreement with another team to draft a point guard they want, such as OJ Mayo. Then after the Mayo pick is made, flip Beasley for Mayo and another pick or player.

Now the question we have to ask is, how do the Knicks get involved in this?

The Knicks would have to send something to Miami to sweeten the pot. We don't see too much on the current Knick roster that would interest the Heat outside of, perhaps, David Lee, who would then have to play behind his former Florida buddy, Udonis Haslem. Lee, remember, is headed to restricted free agency next summer.

Another thought is the Knicks could give up next year's first-round pick (lottery protected, right Isiah?) along with choosing Mayo at No. 6.

Of course there are no guarantees that Mayo would still be on the board at No. 6 and if you are Seattle, Memphis or Minnesota you also want to get in on this. Some draft forecasts have Memphis taking Mayo.

If anything, perhaps this kind of talk could lead to Italian rising star Danilo Gallinari being available for the Knicks at No. 6.

Or, again, the pick is traded as a means to unload some contract.

Expect to see several of these types of scenarios over the next few weeks leading up to the draft. Donnie Walsh has made it clear the Knicks will explore every option with the pick.

* *

Today we reported that Baron Davis has put out feelers to gauge interest around the league while he considers his options in Golden State. We discussed this on the blog recently and I did a little more checking into it.

While the most likely scenario will be that Davis remains with the Warriors, plays out his final year at $17.8 million and then signs an extension for a lesser amount, it is always worth exploring a guy like Davis on a short-term situation.

But the Knicks might be more interested in another Warrior, Monta Ellis, who is a restricted free agent.

Stay tuned . . .

So your Knicks are not going to have a chance to draft Derrick Rose. And maybe even Jerryd Bayless won't be on the board by the time the sixth overall pick comes around.

But there are options out there to improve the point guard position and find a player who can run that Mike D'Antoni system somewhere near the way Steve Nash did it in Phoenix.

The name is Theo Papaloukas.

The guy has added a new chapter to Greek mythology and is considered by just about everyone in Europe to be the best player outside the NBA. He's 6-7, 215 pounds and has tremendous court vision and solid ball-handling skills. Not an outstanding athlete, but good enough. Not great shooter, either, so he's really mainly a drive-and-kick, pass-first point guard.

He is also 31 years old. There have been NBA teams in the past interested in him -- Lakers, Clippers, Bucks and Heat have inquired -- but so far no one has taken the leap of faith to throw enough money and lure him away from his current team, CSKA Moscow. He makes $3 million Euro a year, which calculates to $4.7 million U.S. He can opt out at any time, so interested NBA teams will not have to pay for his buyout.

Papaloukas is a bit of a risk because you'd have to invest some cash -- mid-level exception, at least -- and also guarantee him floor general status. His weak shooting makes him useless as a two or a three, so Papaloukas would have to be the point guard. He'd have to be your guy.

Isiah Thomas was over in Europe on a scouting mission to take a gander at Danilo Gallinari and a few other prospects, but he also saw Papaloukas. Some compare his game to Tracy McGrady. Some think he's overrated.

There is a widespread belief that the Knicks will buyout Stephon Marbury only if they can find a better option at the point for next season. Obviously there are other options around the NBA -- the Raptors will likely have to move T.J. Ford if they make a major committment to Jose Calderon and Memphis is committed to Mike Conley, Jr., so Kyle Lowry will certainly want a new address and if Chicago drafts Rose, Kirk Hinrich might be on the block.

* *

Upon further review, I'm not so convinced the Bulls should go for Rose. Obviously he is a tremendous talent with a huge upside, but if you consider which player has the chance to make an immediate impact, I might think Michael Beasley fits better. You could start him at the four next to Joakim Noah, who is more of a shot blocker and rebounder, and have Luol Deng at the three. That's an athletic frontcourt that also has Tyrus Thomas and Andreas Nocioni on the bench (or available as tradable assets).

But we know the Bulls aren't happy with Hinrich, who took a step backward last season, so to pass up on a dynamic point guard wouldn't be an intelligent decision. And here's something to consider if you are wondering if the Knicks would make a play for Hinrich if he became available: I was told Mike D'Antoni was down on him when he was discussing the Bulls job.

There was no fix for your Knicks tonight. No instant karma moment that had their number come up first. Put away your daydreams of Derrick Rose running the point; reality hit with the Knicks at Six.

But it's all good, you see. Donnie Walsh says this gives him "options" . . . which is easily translated to suggest that Walsh will most certainly field offers for the pick. If he had a No. 1 or No. 2 in his hands, you can get a player to help you next season. But with the right move, that No. 6 can just as well help next season, but in a different way.

You have contracts that are considered tough to move, none more than Zach Randolph, who, let's be quite honest, doesn't fit in the Mike D'Antoni system. By himself Randolph is almost an impossible trade unless you are willing to take back an equally hefty contract that someone else doesn't want. But package him with a lottery pick . . .

"I think we’ve got to look at all the options we have in front of us as far as the players that are involved, what other moves we might be able to make around the pick and, so, I think this begins the second stage of our rebuilding toward next year,” Walsh said. “At six you have more flexibility."

Can you tempt Denver with it for Carmelo? Would Memphis, who already sits fifth overall, take it for a package that brings in Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry? Would Toronto consider moving restricted free agent Jose Calderon or Andrea Bargnani for something involving the pick?

You can go through just about every roster in the league and come up with ideas.

"It's an asset," Walsh said. "A good asset."

It's something Walsh can use to accelerate the effort to get under the cap by 2010. And if he can use it for that cause instead of adding another young player, you have to believe he would. It's also something Walsh can use to improve the Knicks immediately, by filling a need or adding a player who fits the D'Antoni style.

Of course the Knicks will also consider what player could be available to them at No. 6. Next week is the Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando -- we'll be there, of course -- where most of the lottery pick candidates won't play, but they will be involved in team interviews and the combine. It is also there where Walsh and Glen Grunwald can begin researching the interest in their pick as well as what players will likely be taken with the first five picks. If a point guard like Jerryd Bayless (Arizona) sounds as if he somehow might slip through (really, how does Minnesota not take him? Would Kevin McHale instead go for a power forward to play along side Al Jefferson?), you have to think the Knicks might prefer to keep the pick.

With such options, you might see Walsh move a little quicker than expected in naming a general manager. They're gonna need all hands on deck.

Stay tuned . . .

* *

It's a snarky question, but someone had to ask it. So as D'Antoni wrapped up his media scrum after the lottery, I said, "Is there any irony that the winner was Chicago, one of the teams that you decided not to go to and come to the Knicks?"

"Nah," D'Antoni said with a laugh. "You guys can make that story. That's on you guys. That's easy, that's a layup for you guys."

D'Antoni did reveal one little nugget: during his legendary career in Italty, he spent eight seasons as a teammate with the father of Italian prosect Danilo Gallinari. D'Antoni and Victorio Gallinari were even roommates for three years. "So I know him a lot through family," D'Antoni said. "But I have not watched his kid a lot being over here."

Still, he will tap into his vast resources in Italy to get as much information on Danilo Gallinari, a 6-9 forward who has good post-up moves, good range and is a terrific ballhandler. Some compare him to Toni Kukoc.

* *
On one of the dining tables in the hospitality tent was an autographed photo of Kiki Vandeweghe from his days with the Portland Trail Blazers. Kiki happened to walk by and I said, "When I was in high school I would have given anything to have this." It's true. He was one of my favorite players and I was happy when he was traded to the Knicks in 1989.

Kiki smiled and replied, "Yeah, and now you're using it as a place mat for your dinner."

* *

One entertaining scene at the draft lottery came in the studio during a commercial break, before the picks were revealed. Jay-Z, who was there representing the Nets, started tapping out a beat on the dias. Dwyane Wade started bobbing his head and Rudy Gay picked up on it. Jay-Z kept the beat going and added a line of "uh...uh...uh" into the rhythm as if he was ready to freestyle.

Jay then suddenly stopped and the players broke up into laughter.

The NBA. Where Jay-Z's next hit happens.

The infamous, inaugural NBA Draft lottery, which was the first and only won by the Knicks, who earned the right to draft Patrick Ewing. It goes with our story in the Sunday Newsday about the draft lottery.

Fixers, the Knicks have been regular participants in the lottery since that 14-year playoff run ended in 2002. And the past two seasons -- when the Chicago Bulls had the rights to the pick as part of the Eddy Curry trade -- you might have only watched with morbid curiosity. The Knicks didn't win, but they had the No. 2 overall choice in 2006 -- their highest finish since '85 -- and the Bulls took that pick to select LaMarcus Aldridge.

That 1985 lottery was a desperate time for the Knicks and they are now. Though there is no Ewing in the draft, there is a player whom the Knicks feel fits the Mike D'Antoni system and could fill a spot for the next decade: Memphis point guard Derrick Rose.

So, the question is, how does David Stern rig it this year?

I had an enjoyable chat with Mike D'Antoni on Thursday as he made the rounds with his celly to have personal chats with the beat writers. First impressions are what they are. I'd rather judge him in January, after a half-season of him dealing with us every single day and three times on game days.

But in the meantime...here's a few clips that offer some background and insight on your new coach, courtesy of the Phoenix Suns.

So Donnie Walsh made several references to a Mike "D'Antonio" today. Newsday columnist Johnette Howard wondered if it was a Freudian slip, considering that D'Antoni just never could beat the Spurs.

Aside from that, lots of questions about the future that really can only be answered in time. Let's take a look at what's ahead now that Walsh has his coach in place:

1. Assemble a staff -- As we reported today, D'Antoni might not be able to take his entire group with him from Phoenix, but we already know that his older brother, Dan, is coming. The other who might join him is longtime assistant Phil Weber, who was a standout at Long Island Lutheran and grew up in Northport. We were able to confirm our speculation from today's story that Herb Williams will remain on the Knicks bench as an assistant coach. Six-plus seasons and counting for Herb. D'Antoni expects to only keep a staff of four, so that final spot may be up for grabs. Longtime Knicks player development coach, Greg Brittenham, should get some serious consideration, but there will be a lot of young coaches pushing for this job. We've already heard that Kenny Anderson -- the Molloy legend and dude who joked about having to sell one of his cars during the NBA lockout and has been coaching on the minor league basketball circuit -- is hoping to get his name in the mix.

2. Prepare for the Draft -- Walsh said he will send Mike D'Antoni to represent the Knicks at the draft lottery next Tuesday and hope he brings good luck. At best the Knicks would love the opportunity to select Memphis point guard Derrick Rose, who is expected to go as high as No. 1 in the draft and is a great fit for the D'Antoni system. There are plenty of point guards to choose from in this draft and that seems the obvious hole to fill, though Walsh has said he usually prefers to go with the "best player available" over filling a need. And if the Knicks do not go for any other point guard, another option might be 6-9 swingman Danilo Gallinari of Italy, whom D'Antoni knows through his Italian League contacts and, with a terrific shot and strong ball-handling skills, is another that fits the system. Gallinari is compares to Toni Kukoc, I'm told, though, at 19 years old, needs a lot more physical development to handle the NBA game.

3. Hire a General Manager -- You can expect Glen Grunwald will remain in place at least through the draft, but it is more than likely that Walsh will look to hire his own guy to run the everyday front office duties. Walsh and D'Antoni both may be in on this decision, so you can figure they will look at D'Antoni colleagues such as Wizards executive Tommy Sheppard, whom D'Antoni worked with in Denver, Bulls consultant Jim Paxson (coincidentally the brother of the GM D'Antoni spurned for the Knicks), former Bucks GM Larry Harris (whom Isiah Thomas almost managed to get to take Zach Randolph's contract) and Raptors assistant GM Maurizio Gheradini, whom D'Antoni knows from the Italian League team, Bennetton. A wild card candidate that must be kept an eye on is Denver Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien, whom Walsh likes because he has a history of revamping rosters and moving otherwise immovable contracts. Warkentien has an incredible track record of making deals that we'll detail down the road if it sounds like he's in the mix. Right now he has his hands full with the Nuggets and their issues.

4. Roster Evaluation -- There isn't much Walsh can do with most of the current roster, but there will have to be a decision made on Stephon Marbury, who is in the final year of his contract ($21 million) and could be a buyout candidate if they decide it best to remove him from the locker room. Another buyout candidate could be the oft-injured Jerome James and a player Walsh will likely try to move is Zach Randolph, whose contract is an albatross. Expect the athletic players -- Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler, Renaldo Balkman, Jared Jeffries and David Lee -- to have the easiest time fitting into D'Antoni's system.

Interesting story by KC Johnson in today's Chicago Tribune (as most of you already know, Newsday is no longer related to the Trib, but we still like KC). Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf tells his side of things regarding L'Affaire D'Antoni and how he somehow slipped out of the Bulls' grasp and right into Donnie Walsh's lap.

"I'm disappointed in him," Reinsdorf told Johnson. "I don't know what else we could've done. He chose to go to New York knowing there was a good chance we would make him an offer. If he had really wanted to be in Chicago, he would've waited. Instead, he misled us. It's not the end of the world, but it is somewhat rude."

The way Reinsdorf so candidly tells it, the Bulls actually did want D'Antoni. But D'Antoni, after two discussions with the Bulls, including a two hour and 15 minute meeting between Reinsdorf and D'Antoni in Phoenix last Friday, decided he wanted to go to New York. Confidants that I've talked to over the past few days say D'Antoni felt "wanted" by the Knicks. After a season where he felt he was being undercut by management in Phoenix, D'Antoni was looking to go where he felt he had the confidence of his boss.

"They're committed to getting it done," the confidant told me. "It's exciting to have everybody focused on Job 1, which is to bring New York back . . . It’s a challenge."

Perhaps D'Antoni's hesitation with Chicago had to do with John Paxson asking so much about defense during the interview. Walsh didn't ask questions, he made a sales pitch. It included giving him the confidence that he would not be second-guessed by management and he would have all the resources he needed from the Garden vault. And, of course, there's that plan to get under the cap by 2010 so the Knicks can go after LeBron James.

The Bulls could only offer the chance to win now, with a roster that already has talent that could fit in D'Antoni's system. And Reinsdorf said D'Antoni made it seem as if he had no interest in the Knicks, even with those reports of a potentially "staggering" contract offer from New York.

"He said . . . money wasn't the most important thing anyway," Reinsdorf said. "He said he wanted a job where he was going to be happiest. He said he didn't want to coach the Knicks."

What do you know, we found another lie within this process.

But what seems to be the truth is the Bulls really did want D'Antoni. Which suggests the Knicks weren't his second choice after all.

Twenty-four million dollars can make you change you mind rather quickly.

* *

While we're discussion possibly ways the Knicks can revamp this roster, take a peek at a story in the Denver Post from last week, which said the Nuggets will make changes to their team. That includes, believe it or not, Carmelo Anthony.

Denver Post:
While the Nuggets have given no indication they will actively shop Anthony, the constant drama in the life of their 23-year-old forward has become the source of enough frustration within team headquarters that Denver would be willing to listen if somebody made a trade offer too good to refuse for Melo. The problem? In a league where stars such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James dominate, it's difficult to come out ahead when trading a singular immense talent for any combination of players and draft picks.

That's a tough contract to pick up because it means you are out of the LeBron sweepstakes, so I don't see it happening. The Nuggets might look to move Marcus Camby, but we remember he originally left the Garden because he walked out of one of those media training workshops. Sometimes there's no going home, but he would fit well in the D'Antoni system and his shot-blocking ability is sorely needed.

Plus, his contract would work short-term. He is set to make $11,250,000 next season and $10,900,000 in 2009-10, after which he becomes a free agent and comes off the ledger.

Didn't the Nuggets have an interest in Zach Randolph before the trade deadline? Things that make ya go hmmmm.....

* *

So what do we do here at The Fix now that we're owned by Cablevision, the same people that own Madison Square Garden and the Knicks? Why, we expect to get back-door access, rock-star parking and sushi at the press table. I might even start typing my stories with those foam No. 1 fingers.

As for integrity? Don't expect me to change anything (aside from, perhaps, referring to my boss as "Mr. Dolan" instead of things like Jimmy D and D'oh-lan).

As long as I have a comfy chair in the press room, a key to the MSG Training Facility so I can use the gym on game days between the shoot-around and the game and access to the lunch room, we're cool.

And free cable.

But when it comes to basketball, I have a job to do and I believe Mr. Dolan understands that.

For media-related issues, I refer you to Newsday's Media Watchdog, Neil Best, who has all the answers. And whatever answers he doesn't have, he always chooses C. I heard the guy scored a 1480 on his SATs by employing that method.

Heading off to Manhattan for the press conference soon. I'll check in afterward.

The Knicks just announced a press conference for tomorrow at 1 p.m. to introduce Mike D'Antoni has the head coach of the Knicks.

And LeBron James just dunked on Kevin Garnett.

They don't want to read about this in Cleveland, but just about every step Donnie Walsh will take between now and the Summer of LeBron (2010) will be all about getting King James into a Knicks uniform.

As we reported today, much of Walsh' recruiting efforts with Mike D'Antoni involved the gameplan of getting under the salary cap to make a run at LBJ.

Before we get to the meat of the story, let me first correct a few things in the story. First and foremost, Marc Iavaroni's name is misspelled in the story. For some reason, we went with the spelling of another Long Islander, Big Brown owner Michael Iavarone.

Pardon me, I'm an idiot. But as I've said in the past, fallibility is sexy.

More importantly -- and clearly something that will be discussed a great deal -- is the Knicks payroll situation going into the offseason after 2009-10. I wrote that the Knicks have $28 million in salary, which reflects only guaranteed contracts. I failed to include the various options that are also on the ledger that, if all were taken, would increase the number to $47 million.

Let's assume the cap in 2010-11 is in the $60-65 million range. That still leaves the Knicks over $10 million in cap space, which is a start.

But let me show you what the Knicks have contract-wise to deal with between now and then:

Stephon Marbury ($20,840,625) and Malik Rose ($7,647,500) become free agents in 2009.

David Lee and Nate Robinson are both headed toward restricted free agency in 2009. The most the Knicks have to do is give qualifying offers to both -- Lee would get $2,682,049 and Robinson would get $2,911,077 -- and then negotiate with them in 2010. But that opens the door for other teams to submit offer sheets for either (Lee might get a lot of attention, perhaps at the mid-level exception) and Walsh will have to decide if it is worth keeping either for long-term committments or letting them go to stick with the 2010 plan.

Like I said, Fixers, there are going to be some tough decisions.

Another one that is coming in 2009 is Jamal Crawford, who has a player opt-out after next season and may very well take it if he believes he could get more on the open market than the $19,440,000 he would get over the next two seasons if he picked up his option. Keep this in mind, Crawford should flourish in D'Antoni's system, so his offensive numbers aren't likely to drop. So if Crawford opts-out, his $10,080,000 owed in 2010-11 comes off the books.

Quentin Richardson has a player option in 2009 for $9,352,500 that you can expect he will pick up. But he comes off the books in 2010.

Jerome James has a player opt for $6,600,000 in 2009. I wonder if before this point Walsh will look into getting a disabled player exemption for James, who has a litany if physical issues that -- along with an awful work ethic -- has kept him from being physically able to perform. Either way, his contract is off the books in 2010.

Going even deeper, there are team options on three young players for 2010 - Renaldo Balkman ($2,036,920), Mardy Collins ($1,801,029) and Wilson Chandler ($1,255,440). None are guaranteed to be picked up because you can't assume anything.

Everyone agrees it's pretty much a given Eddy Curry will pick up his option in 2009 that kicks in $10,500,423 in 09-10 and $11,276,863 in 10-11. You're stuck with that unless you can find a trade parter.

Zach Randolph's contract is the killer. He is owed $17,333,333 in 2010-11, which is the final year of his deal. Perhaps you can trade him by then as an expiring, but there is reason to believe that Walsh will do all he can to move Randolph this summer. But you'll likely have to take on someone else's bad contract (or two) in the process. Since you're going to need players, the hope is you at least get players who better fit the system and, better fit with Curry in the frontcourt.

In the meanwhile, anything else you do is purely short-term. D'Antoni's system needs strong play out of the point guard position. We already know Toronto will have to make a choice between Jose Calderon (a restricted free agent) and T.J. Ford, who is owed $16.5 million over the next two seasons and has a player option for $8.5 million in 2010-11.

One intriguing option to consider -- longshot, but worth monitoring -- is the situation brewing with Baron Davis and the Warriors. Davis has a $17.1 million option this summer. If he opts out, he is a free agent and the Knicks won't be able to touch him. But if he has any interest in coming to New York, he'd have to take something short-term via a sign-and-trade.

Fixers, this isn't going to be easy. There is a lot of maneuvering to do and some very tough decisions (Crawford and Lee) to make along the way to get to that Summer of LeBron with enough space to lure him away from Cleveland.

A statement was just released by the team:

"The New York Knicks have agreed in principle with Mike D'Antoni to become the next head coach of the team. A press conference will be scheduled upon the completion of the contract."

There is early word that a press conference could come as early as Monday -- there is only one playoff game that night (Boston at Cleveland) -- but nothing has been officially set as of yet.

The fact that the Knicks released a statement likely means D'Antoni officially resigned from the Suns, which had to take place before the Knicks could announce an agreement.

Four years at $24 million is the deal, which we were able to confirm. What's notable is that means next season the Knicks will be paying for three head coaches. Larry Brown should be in the fourth year of his five-year deal. Isiah Thomas is in the second year of his three-year extension. And now D'Antoni starts his four-year agreement.

Good to have money.

Have I said how much I admire and respect Cablevision as a company?

By the way...I owe myself this. Click here for the result of my prediction on the Michael Kay Show.

Mike D'Antoni is your new coach.

Discuss amongst yourselves. I'll blog after my responsibilities to the print side are completed.

L'Affaire D'Antoni has been like reading one of those choose-your-own-adventure books. You start with the fact that Mike D'Antoni has been given permission to talk with other teams....

Now, if you believe his destination will be Chicago, turn to Newsday, the Chicago Tribune and the Arizona Republic.

If you believe the Knicks are legitimately in play, turn to The New York Post, the Chicago Sun-Times and the East Valley Tribune.

And if you will believe anything someone tells you, go to ESPN.com.

Hey, like Buffalo Springfield said, Nobody's right if everybody's wrong.

Despite this reported anticipation of a "staggering offer" from the Knicks, D'Antoni is meeting with Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf this weekend, according to the Chicago Tribune.

This report backs up our story in today's Newsday which, according to a source, said that D'Antoni would be meeting a second time with the Bulls this weekend.

From the beginning this has been mainly about D'Antoni and the Bulls. They were the first to fly to Phoenix and talk to D'Antoni when the Suns gave him permission to speak with other teams. Donnie Walsh arrived the next day.

Walsh does have an interest in D'Antoni and, through people close to him, there is a sense that Walsh is confident that D'Antoni could be successful in New York. But is Walsh desperate to hire him?

He doesn't seem to be.

Not as desperate as the D'Antoni camp has in perpetuating the notion -- through the eager media -- that Walsh and the Knicks are holding a blank check to lure D'Antoni away from the Bulls, who are trying to be reasonable with their contract offer after regretting a long-term committment to Scott Skiles. As the Tribune reported, the idea that the Bulls won't pay because they still owe Skiles a ton of buyout money is factually incorrect.

Skiles is owed $3.5 million, but as per the agreement that number will be paid out over time. The Bulls will pay Skiles $1 million each in the next two seasons and then $750,000 each in the following two. That is hardly break-the-bank numbers for a wealthy team like the Bulls.

Bottom line, if they want D'Antoni, they can certainly match the remaining salary he has in Phoenix, which is $4 million this coming season and $4.5 million in 2009-10.

But if you represent D'Antoni and the New York market is involved with even mild interest, you wouldn't be a good agent if you didn't try to get your client more. The Bulls have no interest in getting into a bidding war with the Knicks.

And the Knicks have no interest in bidding against themselves, which is a refreshing change from the mindset of the previous regime.

More to come. Stay tuned . . . .

* *

Been making the radio rounds this week around the country -- we've been on in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta -- and on Friday we made our drivetime debut on the Michael Kay show on ESPN Radio. Go here for a listen.

And be sure you catch fellow Fixer Brandon Tierney's show from 7 - 10 p.m. weeknights on ESPN Radio.

Maybe Steve Nash knows something, or maybe he's freaking out over the idea of playing in a system other than Mike D'Antoni's free-wheeling, free-spirited system.

Reporters in Phoenix caught up with him at a charity appearance today and he addressed the speculation surrounding D'Antoni.

"This is the last thing I'm going to say about our coaching situation: Mike's my coach," Nash said. "So I expect to see Mike back here next year. And I know there's a lot of stuff going on right now, but Mike's my coach. I love playing for him. I expect to see him back in October."

No one benefitted more from D'Antoni than Nash, who arrived in Phoenix in 2004 and became a two-time MVP. The Suns went from a 29-win team the season before to a 62-20 finish in 2004-05. D'Antoni took over during the 2003-04 season, which saw all kinds of changes, including the blockbuster trade of Stephon Marbury to New York, which freed up cap space to sign Nash.

It is hard to believe D'Antoni can return to the Suns after all of this. Even if he doesn't take the Bulls offer and the Knicks decide not to go with him, D'Antoni will have other options later this summer with the uncertaintly in Atlanta. And the later this goes into the summer, the more pressure is put on the Suns to make a decision with a replacement coach -- not many options the longer they wait -- and then are forced to negotiate a buyout with D'Antoni. If they force him back to coach it would create a very strange and uneasy situation. But a contract is a contract.

Nash would obviously welcome that scenario, but you wonder if there is fallout to come with D'Antoni's departure. Would Nash seek a trade?

Stay tuned....

I have this wild and complicated scenario that, aside from obvious collusion, could be a plausible solution to the Mike D'Antoni situation.

Warning: This is pure speculation. But since everyone else is doing it -- and not being held accountable for it (i.e.: there was no "staggering offer" made by the Knicks and there was no meeting today between Donnie Walsh and D'Antoni's agent, Warren LeGarie, as was reported elsewhere) -- let us grab a handful of goo and throw it at the wall. If it sticks, we'll take all the credit.

If it doesn't, we'll just pretend we never said anything.

The scenario involves the Knicks, Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors. Now, Fixers, stay with me here.

The Suns have refused to give D’Antoni permission to speak with the Raptors, for whom former Suns executive Bryan Colangelo is the general manager. Suns managing partner Robert Sarver doesn't want to see Colangelo reunite with his buddy Mike D.

But that doesn't necessarily mean D'Antoni can't wind up in Toronto. D’Antoni could quit if he had assurances via backchannels (i.e. his buddy) that Toronto would give him the job.

But Colangelo would first have to get Donnie Walsh to give assurances that he would hire Sam Mitchell, a Walsh favorite, who then would have to quit in Toronto before D’Antoni was hired.

Round and round she goes....

In this scenario the Suns get out of paying D’Antoni the $8.5 million left on his contract and the Raptors get out of paying Mitchell the final three years of the extension he was given last summer.

And the Knicks get an experienced candidate who fits more of the mold Walsh is looking to set for the franchise.

Or, of course, Walsh could just give D'Antoni a boatload of money. Or give the job to Mark Jackson and put an end to all of this.

For those who are wondering about Avery Johnson, I heard today that he might just take the $11 mil coming to him from Dallas and sit out a while until the best opportunity opens for him. It suggests even he believes New York is not a good fit for him.

Stay tuned....

Depending on what report you read in each respective market -- and each market has its own conflicting reports -- the Knicks are either hotly after Mike D'Antoni or being used as leverage to get D'Antoni's only legitimate option, the Chicago Bulls, to ante up.

Then comes another late-night report by ESPN.com, which said the Knicks are preparing a "staggering" offer to D'Antoni to make him their next coach.

Staggering? While they are laying out $18.5 million to Larry Brown, who, technically, would still be the coach? While they are still paying $18 million to Isiah Thomas, who, technically, still has a job in the organization?

They just print money out there in Woodbury, don't they?

But we know how much Garden chairman James Dolan loves big names and, even if he personally likes Mark Jackson, Dolan knows D'Antoni is a marquee name and knows D'Antoni plays a very entertaining style. Never mind the idea that the current Knicks roster doesn't fit the style...and we've already seen the result of an easygoing coach who doesn't practice a lot and leaves it up to his players to police themselves.

Ugh.

Perhaps Donnie Walsh has full autonomy over the Knicks, but the final decisions still have to be OK'd by Dolan.

And Warren LeGarie is a smart agent. He knows he has the attention of the media, which is hungry for morsels as this story continues to develop. He knows he has the attention of the New York market and that he can use the involvement of Dolan's money as a wild card to his advantage, whether it is serious or not. Agents do what's best for their clients, so you can't expect full disclosure, nor candor.

Bottom line, what kind of negotiations can you have when there's only one team in the competition? D'Antoni will have to walk away from $8.5 million in Phoenix to take another job. You want to make that money back somehow. The Knicks throw money at everyone with a big name, that's the history. And as long as there is an opening in New York, D'Antoni has to be considered a serious candidate, regardless of how poorly his style fits with the current roster.

You have to expect Walsh wants to name his coach sometime before the end of May, preferably before the Pre-Draft camp in Orlando after Memorial Day weekend. Teams are allowed to bring in potential draft picks after the Pre-Draft camp, so you would want your coach in on those workouts.

Walsh also may still be waiting on the opportunity to talk with Celtics associate coach Tom Thibodeau.

And, when all is said and done, I am still of the belief that Walsh's instinct tells him Jackson is the right man for this job, which doesn't mean Jackson is the best candidate available. The Knicks job is very specific and can not be treated as if it is the same as coaching in Milwaukee or Memphis or even Chicago. There are peripheral issues the coach has to be able to handle, including the media intensity (which is why I can't take Avery Johnson seriously for this job...but can see him in Atlanta).

But aside from the need for thick skin is a need for someone who can get this franchise through what will be some challenging seasons in the next two years as Walsh attempts to get this team's payroll to a more manageable number.

And, let's be honest, under the cap by 2010? The more you research the numbers, as some of you Fixers have, the more it seems unlikely the Knicks can be in position to be a player for LeBron, et al - unless you do a slash and burn.

As always, stay tuned.

As we expected, Mike D'Antoni prefers the Chicago Bulls over the Knicks, according to a report in Newsday's parent newspaper, the Chicago Tribune.

KC Johnson says sources told him that D'Antoni expressed to Bulls executive John Paxson an interest in coming to Chicago to coach the Bulls, who, as we've written here (and has been written everywhere else), have a roster that best fits D'Antoni's uptempo system. D'Antoni and Paxson met Sunday night in Phoenix.

We reported in today's Newsday that Donnie Walsh flew out to Phoenix on Monday to meet with D'Antoni. Walsh went with the intention of interviewing one of the most accomplished coaches available, but there was little doubt that D'Antoni would have a greater interest in coaching the Bulls and that Walsh would prefer a more disciplined, defensive-minded coach.

I talked to a team executive from the West who said Walsh has often debated style philosophies with other team executives around the league over the years.

"He has had numerous philosophical conversations regarding the new Suns style versus the classic style -- the Heat with Riley and the Spurs and Boston," the executive said. "We usually ended up in the same place: the classic-style teams seem to be sizing for rings."

So if you remove D'Antoni from the equation, that brings us back to Avery Johnson and Mark Jackson.

Walsh is meeting with Johnson this week, perhaps as soon as today. We may be finally in the homestretch.

Let the bidding war begin between the Knicks and Bulls.

According to ESPN Radio's affiliate in Phoenix, KTAR 620 AM, the Phoenix Suns have granted coach Mike D'Antoni permission to speak with other teams about a new job.

Details are sketchy, but the report was picked up early this morning by ESPN.com and also on ChicagoSports.com.

D'Antoni (pictured right, photo from NBA.com) met with Suns president Steve Kerr and managing partner Robert Sarver on Friday in Phoenix to discuss the former Coach of the Year's future. Kerr called it a productive meeting and D'Antoni declined comment. The trio are expected to meet again Monday.

With two years and $8.5 million left on his contract with the Suns, the decision to allow D'Antoni to shop around is clearly a way to get out of paying him, which Phoenix would have to do if they fired him. And if D'Antoni quit, he would be walking away from that money with no guarantees he could make it back elsewhere. So freeing him up to explore other options works for both.

For D'Antoni, with two major markets looking for a coach, the grass will be greener -- financially speaking -- on the other side of the continent.

There are three current openings in the NBA -- New York, Chicago and Dallas -- and reports over the weekend said the Mavericks have decided to hire Rick Carlisle, which would take them out of the running. Mark Cuban is believed to want a defensive-minded, disciplined tactician. Cuban has seen plenty of D'Antoni over the years to know his style. But it will be interesting to see if he puts the brakes on hiring Carlisle if D'Antoni is available.

D'Antoni's arrival on the market will also impact Avery Johnson, who is looking to get another job after he was ousted in Dallas. Johnson is expected to at least get looks by both the Knicks and Bulls.

There's little doubt that Donnie Walsh will quickly get in touch with D'Antoni's representation, or vice versa. Same goes for John Paxson, who is said to have an interest in hiring an experienced coach.

It's not a given that the Knicks and D'Antoni would be a match. Walsh is not necessarily looking for the best coach available, but the best coach for this particular job. D'Antoni's uptempo style would be an exciting show at Madison Square Garden, but the Knicks traditionally are built on defense. D'Antoni does not stress defense, which is a major reason for his anticipated ouster in Phoenix.

The current Knicks roster has some players who fit the system -- Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler and Renaldo Balkman -- and yet others who don't -- Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph and Quentin Richardson -- and that could lead to a disaster with this group, which showed little interest in playing defense under Isiah Thomas. Plus, the Knicks clearly need a coach who stresses discipline and accountability. D'Antoni is more of a player's coach who is best suited for a veteran team that self-polices.

“He's a great offensive coach and his demeanor is non-combative as it relates to players, a stark contrast to the tirades he directs at officials,” one NBA general manager said of D'Antoni, when I asked him recently about how D'Antoni would fit with the Knicks. “If they are looking for a defensive minded drill sergeant, they better look elsewhere.”

Which suggests either Johnson or the front-runner from the start, Mark Jackson, would have the inside track. And despite his lack of experience, Jackson may still be the favorite because of his New York roots and ability to handle the peripheral challenges of the job.

Chicago's roster is also young and, as evidenced this past season, lacks discipline. But with Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and young, athletic players such as Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, they seem to be a better fit for D'Antoni's system.

Keep in mind if you are D'Antoni and you are going to leave a perennial 50-win situation that some have deemed as a failure, you have to pick your next stop carefully.

Two wild cards who may show interest are Toronto (Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo knows D'Antoni well from their days together in Phoenix and the Raptors team is built perfectly for D'Antoni's style) and the Atlanta Hawks, who just came off a promising seven-game loss to Boston but also have the right type of horses for the D'Antoni system.

Both teams would have to act quickly, however. Colangelo, who last week said he had no plans to fire Sam Mitchell, would have to reverse that decision. And while Mike Woodson was rumored to be out during the regular season in Atlanta, he might have bought himself time with the strong showing against the Celtics.

But in either situation, you can't fire the current coach unless you have D'Antoni locked up.